Piano-string-winding machine.



Patented Oct 3, I899. J. MONIGHAN &. H. BRAINARD.

PIANO STRING WINDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. so, mes. (-No Model.) 4 Shoots-Sheet I,

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No. 634,266. Patented Oct 3, I899 J. MONIGHAN & H. BRAINARD. PIANOSTRING WINDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 80, 1898.)

4 Shasta-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

FIGBQ WITNESSES No. 634,266. Patented Oct. 3, I899. J. MUNIGHAN & H.BRAINARD."

PIANO STRING WINDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 30, 1898.) (No Model.)

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No. 634,266. Patented Oct. 3, I899.

V J. MONIGHAN &. H. BRAINARD.

PIANO STRING WINDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 30, 1898.) (No-Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Prion.

JOHN MONIGI-IAN AND HENRY BRAINARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; SAID BRAINARDASSIGNOR TO SAID MONIGHAN.

PIANO-STRING-WINDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,266, dated October3, 1899. Application filed November 30, 1898. Serial No. 697,847. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We,'JOHN MONIGHAN and HENRY BRAINARD, citizens of theUnited States of America, and residents of Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Piano-String-Winding Machines, of which the'following isa specification.

Our invention relates to machines for winding or covering piano-strings.

The main objects of our invention are to save the time of the operatorby providing a more convenient arrangement of parts than has been usedheretofore, to provide for accurate adjustment and thereby insureuniformity of the strings, to provide for readily flattening the mainwire at the proper places with reference to the ends of the wind or wrapof the covering-wire, to prevent a Waste of the main wire or wire to becovered at its tuning end by providing improved fastening means insteadof the hooks around which it has heretofore been necessary to twist saidend, and to insure a uniform tension on the main wires during theprocess of covering same.

The purpose and operation of the different parts shown will beunderstood from the following description by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of amachine constructed according to our invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan ofsame. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of part of the carriage for supportingand guiding the covering-wire. Fig. 4is a side elevation of same. Fig. 5is a top plan of the gripping mechanism for stopping the coveringwireand the device for flattening the main wire, with the block supportingsame. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of same, omitting the flatteningdevice. Fig. 7 is a side-elevation of the flattening device. Fig. 8 isaside elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a top plan ofthe mechanism for engaging the tuning end of the main wire andstretching same. Fig. 10 is a front elevation of same. Fig. 11 is aperspective view of the projection 16. Fig. 12 is a side elevation ofone of the grips D, taken from the side on which the jaws 26 and 27 arelocated. Fig. 13 is a top plan, partly sectional and partly broken away,showing the relative positions of the projections 16 and 19 and thecatches 20 on the standards 23, the arm 11 being in section on the line03a; of Fig. 3 and the standards 23 and catches 20 being in section onthe line y y of Fig. 8. Fig. 14 shows part of a wire toward the leftend, indicating how the outer wind 67 passes over the end at a of theinner wind 66.

The device shown consists, mainly, of the frame A, having thereon thelive-spindles B G for supporting and revolving the main wire; thecarriage O for supporting and guiding the covering-wire, movable on theframe longitudinal of the main wire; the grips D for engaging andstopping the feed of the covering-Wire, the same being adjustablelongitudinal of the frame to determine the limits of the covering on themain wire; the flattening devices E, which are longitudinally adjustablewith the grips, so that the flattening will be at the proper placescorresponding to the ends of the covering, and the driving-shaft F andgearing for revolving the spindles. The carriage O has rollers 1 2journaled thereon, which carry same on the tracks 3 4 of the frame.Spools 5 6 for carrying different sizes of covering-wire are rev-volubly supported on the lower part of the carriage. Above the spools andsecured to the carriage is a wire-straightener comprising theinteracting rollers 7 and 8, the latter being journaled in an arm 9,which is depressed by the lever 10. The arm 11 is secured to the upperpart of the carriage, ex-

tends in close proximity to the main wire 12,

and has a recess 13 thereimthrough which the wire 12 passes. Thecovering-wire passes from its spool through the straightener, theslotted guide-piece 14, and the slot 15 to the main wire. A projection16 is pivoted to the arm 11 at 17 and stopped by the lug 18 in theposition shown in full lines. A projection 19 is rigid on the oppositeside of the arm 11. The office of the projections 16 and 19 is torelease the catches 20 on the grips D, hereinafter described. Theprojections 16 and 19 are beveled at their free ends for sliding contactwith the catches 20. A stop 21 is pivoted to the member 11 at 22. Whenthis is turned W an,

down to the position shown by dotted lines,it.s free end is in positionto abut the standard 23 of the grip D at the right, so as to fix aposition of the carriage inward or toward the left, Figs. 1 and 2, ofthe position at which the projection 19 would operate on the catch 20.The object of fixing this inward position is to start the inner wind ofa double covering to the left of the place where the outer wind will bestopped on the return of the carriage, so that the outer wind willextend over the end of the inner wind, forming a single wind for a shortdistance beyond said end. The grips D are supported on blocks 24, whichare slidingly mounted on the frame A, and are adjusted in a fixedposition on the frame by the screws 25.

The grips D each consist of a standard 23, supporting the fixed jaw 26,and the eccentric jaw 37 is rigidly secured to the arm 98,

which is jonrnaled. in the standard 23. A spring 2.) is secured at oneend to the arm 28 and at the other end to a pin 30 on the standard 23. Aratchet-wheel 3i is rigid on the arm 28 and is engaged by the stop 20through the action of the spring To fix the jaw 27 outof operativepositiomthe operatorturns the arm 28 against the action of the spring2'.) by means of the handle "he catch 20 then engages the ratchet-wheel3i and holds the jaw 27 in such position. \Vhen the carriage Cmovestoward one of the grips, the

covering-wire is carried between the jaws 26 and 27. One of theprojections or if) then coming in contact with the lower arm of theadjacent catch depresses same, and thereby releases the jaw 27, whichengages the covering-wire, and immediately stops the feed of same. Thelower ends of the catches 20 project beyond the standards 23, and theprojections 16 and 19 are beveled at their ends, so that they will camagainst the catches during the motion of the carriage, and thus releasethe ratchet-wheels 31.

The spindle B has rigidly mounted thereon a pair of hooks 56 and 57, onefor engaging the looped end of the main wire 12 and the other forsecuring the end of the coveringwire preparatory to winding same uponthe main wire. The spindle B is journaled in the standard 68 of theframe.

The spindle Gr consists, mainly, of a longitudinally-movable shaft 35,having thereon jaws for engaging the tuning end of the main wire. Theshaft extends through the shaft 34, is angular in cross-section, haslongitudinal movement in the shaft 34, and is revoluble with same. Theshaft St is journaled in the member 36 of the frame and has thegearwheel 37 rigidly mounted thereon. The shaft 35 has a shoulder 38toward the outer end in the sleeve or casing 30. Cones or collars 40 andt1 are secured within the casing, providing bearings for the shoulder 38to prevent the relative longitudinal movement of the casing 39 and shaft35. The casing 39 has an extension thereon passing through a slot in thearm i2 and terminating in the head 43. The arm 42 ispivoted to theframeat 4 1-. A lever 45 is pivoted to the frame at 46. The arm 42 and lever45 are pivotally connected by the link 47. When the lever is in theposition shown, the spindle is locked against inward longitudinalmovement, the point of its pivotal connection with the link bearingagainst the casing 39. By pulling the lever toward the left the casing39 will be urged inwardly or toward the left, carrying the shaft 35 withsame.

The head 48 has a fixed jaw or shoulder at) thereon, an eccentric jaw 50pivoted thereto, and a hook 51 for attachment of the covering-wire. Theeccentric 50 is turned into and out. of engagement with the main wire bythe handle 52.

The spindles are driven by the shaft F through the gear-wheels 53 and54: meshing with the gear-wheels 55 and 37, respectively.

The flattening device consists of an anvil 58, having an arm 59supporting a plunger 60 above the striking-face 61 of the anvil. Theanvil is secured to the arm 62', which passes through an orifice G3 inthe block (it and is secured by the set-screw (35. The block (it ispivoted to the block 2t, so that the anvil has a radial movement withits arm (32.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The operator first hooks thelooped end of the main wire upon the hook 56 of the lefthand spindle andthen draws the wire tight between the jaws 49 and '50 and turns the jaw50 in the direction of the arrow (see Fig. 9) into engagement with thewire, the spindle G being at the inner limit of its longitudinalmovement. The lever 45 is then thrown back, thus tightening the wire andlocking the spindle G at the outer limit of its longitudinal movement.The flattenersE are then turned into proper position on their pivotalconnection at Get, being pulled forward to a position at which the mainwire passes vbetween the striking-faee Gland the plunger (30. Theoperator then strikes the plunger .60 with a hammer, thereby flatteningthe wire at the place of contact of the plungers, and then pushes the[latteners back free from the wire. To make a single wind-covering, thecarriage is first placed at the left of the frame, the wind of thecovering-wire being started at the flattened part of the main wire nearthat end, and the end of: the covering-wire being secured to the hook57. The spindles are then revolved, turning the main wire and windingthe covering-wire. The carriage is moved toward the .right through theaction of the covering-wire until the projection 19 comes in contactwith the catch 20, whereby the jaw 27 is released, so that same gripsthe covering-wire, causing same to break at the main wire. To make adouble-wind covering, the stop 21 is first turned down to the positionshown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. The carriage is then brought into aposition with the stop 21 abutting the standard 23 of the grip D at theright. The wind of the covering-wire is now started at that position,the end of said covering-Wire being secured on the hook 51. hen thecarriage arrives at a point near the grip D on the left, the projection16 releases the catch 20 at that end and there stops and breaks thecovering-wire. The projection 16 is then turned up to the position shownby the dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 13, permitting the carriage to bemoved a short distance further to the left, the projection 16 when insuch position being out of the way of the standard 23 and catch 20thereon. The second covering-wire, which is supported on the lowerspool, is then brought into proper position and wound from a point atthe left of the first covering-wire, over same and to a point atthe-right of the starting-point of the first covering-wire, the stop 21being turned up so that the second wire is broken at the proper placethrough the operation of the stop 19 and the grip D at the right.

It will be understood that the details of construction of ourdevice maybealtered in many ways without departing from the spirit of ourinvention. v

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. A piano-string-winding machine, comprisingasupporting-frame;mechanism thereon for engaging and revolving the main wire; a carriagefor guiding and feeding the covering-wire along said main wire; and agrip on said frame, separate from the carriage, located at one end ofthe travel of said carriage, and adapted to engage the covering-wire andstop the feed of same.

2. A piano-string-winding machine, comprisinga supporting-frame;mechanism thereon for engaging and rovolving the main wire; a carriagefor guiding and feeding the covering-wire along said main wire; a gripon said frame separate from the carriage, located at one end of thetravel of said carriage and adapted to engage the covering-wire and stopthe feed of same; and mechanism for automatically operating the gripwhen the carriage arrives at said end of its travel.

3. A piano-string-winding machine, comprising a supporting-frame;mechanism there on for engaging and revolving the main wire; a carriagefor guiding and feeding the covering-wire along said main wire; and agrip located at each end of the travel of the carriage, separate fromthe carriage, and adapted to engage the covering-wire and stop the feedof same.

4. A piano-string-winding machine, comprisingasupporting-frame;mechanism thereon for engaging and revolving themain wire; a carriagefor guiding and feeding the covering-wire along said main wire; a griplocated at each end of the travel of the carriage, separate from thecarriage, and adapted to engage the covering-wire and stop the feed ofsame; and mechanism for automatically operating the adjacent grip whenthe carriage arrives at either end of its travel.

5. A piano-string-winding machine, comprising a supporting-frame;mechanism thereon for engaging and revolving the main wire; a carriagefor guiding and feeding the covering-wire along said main wire; a griplocated at each end of the travel of the carriage, separate from thecarriage, and adapted to engage the covering-wire, and stop the feed ofsame; a catch on each grip for holding same out of engagement; andprojections on the carriage for releasing said catches; one of saidprojections being movable out of operative position, to permit themovement of the carriage to a position along said main wire outward ofthe position at which said movable projection is operative.

6. A piano-string-winding machine, comprising a supportingframe;mechanism thereon for engaging and revolving themain wire; a carriagefor guiding and feeding the covering-wire along said main wire; a griplocated at each end of the travel of the carriage, separate from thecarriage, and adapted to engage the covering-wire, and stop the feed ofsame; a catch on each grip for holding same out of engagement; theprojection 19, secured to one side of the carriage; the movable stop21,-on said side; and the movable projection 16 secured to the otherside of the carriage; substantially as and for the p urposes specified.

7. A pianoSt-ring-Winding machine, comprising a supporting-frame;mechanism thereon for engaging and revolving the main wire; a carriagefor guiding and feeding the covering-wire along said main wire; a blockadjnstable on said frame longitudinal of said main wire, independent ofthe carriage, and having thereon a grip adapted to engage thecovering-wire to stop the feed of same; and a device for flattening themain wire, carried by said block, and operative 011 the main wire at afixed place with reference to the point at which said feed is stopped;substantially as described.

8. A piano-string-winding machine, comprising a supporting-frame;mechanism thereon for engaging and revolving the main wire; mechanismfor carrying and feeding the covering-wire; and an anvil adjustable onsaid frame longitudinal of the main wire and having an arm carrying aplunger operative toward the striking-surface of the anvil,substantially as described.

9. A piano-string-winding machine, comprising a supporting-frame;mechanism thereon for engaging and revolving the main wire; mechanismfor carrying and feeding the covering-wire; ablock, adjustable on saidframe longitudinal of the main wire; and a device for flattening themain wire, secured to said block and having a limited movement thereonto and from a predetermined point on said main wire.

10. A piano-string-winding machine, comprising a supporting-frame;mechanism thereon for carrying and feeding the covering-xvi re; a pairof live-spindles for supporting and revolving the main wire; one of saidspindles having thereon mechanism for engaging the looped end of saidmain wire and the other spindle being longitudinally movable, and havingthereon a fixed jaw and a cooperating eccentric jaw for engaging thetuning end of said main wire; mechanism for urging said movable spindleoutwardly when said jaws are in engagement; and mechanism for uniformlyrevolving said spindles.

11. A piano-string-winding machine, comprising a su pporting-frame;mechanism thereon for carrying and feeding the covering-wire; a pair oflive-spindles for supporting and revolving the main wire; one of saidspindles having thereon mechanism for engaging the looped end of saidmain wire; and the other spindle being longitudinally movable and havingthereon a fixed jaw and a cooperating eccentric jaw for engaging thetuning end of said main wire; mechanism for urging said movable spindleoutwardly when said jaws are in engagement, and locking same in suchoutward position; and mechanism for uniformly revolving said spindles.

Signed by us at Chicago, Illinois, this 12th day of November, 1898.

JOHN MONIGIIAN.

HENRY BRAINARD.

Witnesses:

WM. R. RUMMLER, LUCY M. FARRELL.

